וּמֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֡ל וִֽיהוֹשָׁפָ֣ט מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֡ה יֹשְׁבִים֩ אִ֨ישׁ עַל־כִּסְא֜וֹ מְלֻבָּשִׁ֤ים בְּגָדִים֙ בְּגֹ֔רֶן פֶּ֖תַח שַׁ֣עַר שֹׁמְר֑וֹן וְכָ֨ל־הַנְּבִיאִ֔ים מִֽתְנַבְּאִ֖ים לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃
Raja Israel dan Yosafat, raja Yehuda, sedang duduk masing-masing di atas takhtanya, mengenakan pakaian kebesaran, di tempat pengirikan di depan pintu gerbang Samaria, sementara semua nabi bernubuat di hadapan mereka.
Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition)
CHULIN (Fol. 5) (I Kings 22, 10) Now the king of Israel and Jehosaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, in the threshing-floor, at the entrance of the gate of Samaria. What does 'in the threshing-floor' mean? Was then the gate of Samaria a threshing-floor? We must therefore say that they were sitting in a position similar to the shape of a threshing-floor (in a semi-circle); for we are taught in a Mishna that the Sanhedrin sat in a semi-circle in the shape of a threshing-floor so that they should be able to see one another. (Ib. 17, 6) And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening. Said R. Juda in the name of Rab: "They brought it from King Achab's butchers upon a Divine order." What is the meaning of 'ravens'? Said Rabina: "Real ravens."
Vayikra Rabbah
“And the elders of Israel”(Leviticus 9:1). Rabbi Akiva said: Israel is likened to a bird. Just as a bird cannot fly without wings, so too, Israel is unable to do anything without its elders. Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥalafta said: Great is Torah scholarship [zikna],25The term zikna, literally old age, is often interpreted by the Sages to refer to Torah scholarship (see, e.g., Kiddushin 32b). for if they are elders, they are cherished, and if they are young men, their childishness is secondary for them,26Their childishness is not their most blatant characteristic. as Rabbi Shimon ban Yoḥai taught: Not in one place and not in two places have we found that the Holy One blessed be He accords honor to the elders, but rather in several places. At the bush, “go and gather the elders of Israel” (Exodus 3:16). In Egypt, “and you shall go, you and the elders of Israel” (Exodus 3:18). At Sinai, “ascend to the Lord; you, Aaron, Nadav and Avihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel” (Exodus 24:1). In the wilderness, “gather for me seventy men [of the elders of Israel]” (Numbers 11:16). At the Tent of Meeting, “and the elders of Israel” (Numbers 11:16). In the future as well, the Holy One blessed be He will accord honor to the elders. That is what is written: “The moon will be disgraced and the sun will be ashamed, [for the Lord of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem]” (Isaiah 24:23), and it is written: “and before His elders, glory” (Isaiah 24:23).
Rabbi Yishmael bar Beivai, Rabbi Shimon, and Rabbi Reuven said in the name of Rabbi Ḥanina: The Holy One blessed be He is destined to appoint an academy of elders of His own: That is what is written: “For the Lord of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before His elders, glory” (Isaiah 24:23). “Before elders” is not written here, but rather, “before His elders, glory.”
Rabbi Avin said in the name of Rabbi Yishmael ben Rabbi Yehoshua: The Holy One blessed be He is destined to sit as on a threshing floor, and the righteous will sit before Him, like this: “The king of Israel and Yehoshafat king of Judah were sitting, each on his throne, dressed in garb, on the threshing floor [at the entrance of the gate of Samaria]” (I Kings 22:10). Were they sitting on a threshing floor? Rather, it is like what we learned: The Sanhedrin was arranged like half of a circular threshing floor, so that they would see each other.27Mishna Sanhedrin 4:3. Solomon said: I saw Him constricting Himself in their midst. That is what is written: “Her husband is renowned at the gates, as he sits with the elders of the land” (Proverbs 31:23).28The entire chapter is an allegory of the relationship between a husband – God, and his wife – the congregation of Israel.
Rabbi Yishmael bar Beivai, Rabbi Shimon, and Rabbi Reuven said in the name of Rabbi Ḥanina: The Holy One blessed be He is destined to appoint an academy of elders of His own: That is what is written: “For the Lord of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before His elders, glory” (Isaiah 24:23). “Before elders” is not written here, but rather, “before His elders, glory.”
Rabbi Avin said in the name of Rabbi Yishmael ben Rabbi Yehoshua: The Holy One blessed be He is destined to sit as on a threshing floor, and the righteous will sit before Him, like this: “The king of Israel and Yehoshafat king of Judah were sitting, each on his throne, dressed in garb, on the threshing floor [at the entrance of the gate of Samaria]” (I Kings 22:10). Were they sitting on a threshing floor? Rather, it is like what we learned: The Sanhedrin was arranged like half of a circular threshing floor, so that they would see each other.27Mishna Sanhedrin 4:3. Solomon said: I saw Him constricting Himself in their midst. That is what is written: “Her husband is renowned at the gates, as he sits with the elders of the land” (Proverbs 31:23).28The entire chapter is an allegory of the relationship between a husband – God, and his wife – the congregation of Israel.
Midrash Tanchuma
It was customary for kings to preside in a circular courtroom, as it says: And now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, in a threshing floor (I Kings 22:10). Did they actually sit on a threshing floor? No. We have learned that the Sanhedrin met in a semicircle, in order that each member might be able to see the others, while the two scribes sat before them to write down the testimony. Solomon said: I see him sitting with them and judging in their midst, as it is said: Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land (Prov. 31:23).